Black Shark 5 vs Red Magic 7S Pro: The Ultimate Gaming Phone Comparison
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average gamer prioritizing raw power and future-proofing, the ZTE nubia Red Magic 7S Pro is the clear winner. Its Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset delivers significantly improved performance and efficiency. However, the Xiaomi Black Shark 5 remains a strong contender for budget-conscious gamers who don't need the absolute latest silicon.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Xiaomi Black Shark 5 | ZTE nubia Red Magic 7S Pro |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 18, 19, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 40, 41, 66 - International |
| 5G bands | 1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA - International, China |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE-A, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G |
| CDMA 800 & TD-SCDMA | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - China | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2022, March 30 | 2022, July 11 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, April 04 | Available. Released 2022, July 15 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | - | Glass front, glass back, aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 163.8 x 76.3 x 10 mm (6.45 x 3.00 x 0.39 in) | 166.3 x 77.1 x 10 mm (6.55 x 3.04 x 0.39 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by) |
| Weight | 218 g (7.69 oz) | 235 g (8.29 oz) |
| Physical pop-up gaming triggers | Pressure sensitive zones (520Hz touch-sensing) Built-in cooling fan Aviation aluminum middle frame | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~387 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~85.9% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.8 inches, 111.6 cm2 (~87.1% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 144Hz, 1300 nits (peak) | AMOLED, 1B colors (China only), 120Hz, 600 nits |
| Always-on display | - | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x3.2 GHz Kryo 585 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 585 & 4x1.80 GHz Kryo 585) | Octa-core (1x3.19 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.75 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8250-AC Snapdragon 870 5G (7 nm) | Qualcomm SM8475 Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (4 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 650 | Adreno 730 |
| OS | Android 12, Joy UI 13 | Android 12, Redmagic 5.5 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM, 128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM | 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 512GB 18GB RAM, 1TB 18GB RAM |
| UFS 3.1 | UFS 3.1 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Single | - | 16 MP, (wide), under display |
| Triple | 64 MP, f/1.8, (wide), PDAF 13 MP, f/2.4, 120˚ (ultrawide) 2 MP (macro) | 64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.97", 0.7µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 120˚, 13mm (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm 2 MP, f/2.4, (macro) |
| Video | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, 1080p@960fps | 8K@30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 16 MP, (wide) | 16 MP, (wide), under display |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30/60fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | Yes |
| 35mm jack | No | - |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| 24-bit/192kHz audio | 32-bit/384kHz audio | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive | 5.2, A2DP, aptX, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS, BDS | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0 | USB Type-C 3.0, OTG, accessory connector |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 120W wired, 100% in 15 min | 135W wired, PD3.0, 50% in 5 min, 100% in 15 min (China) 65W wired, PD3.0 (International) |
| Type | Li-Po 4650 mAh | Li-Po 5000 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Black, White, Gray | Obsidian, Supernova, Mercury, Yellow |
| Models | SHARK PAR-A0 | NX709S |
| Price | About 600 EUR | About 780 EUR |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Camera | - | Photo / Video |
| Loudspeaker | - | -24.1 LUFS (Very good) |
Xiaomi Black Shark 5
- More affordable price point
- Extremely fast 120W charging
- Capable Snapdragon 870 performance
- Older Snapdragon 870 chipset
- Potentially less advanced camera system
ZTE nubia Red Magic 7S Pro
- Flagship Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 performance
- Superior thermal management
- Faster initial charging speed (China version)
- Higher price tag
- International version has slower 65W charging
Display Comparison
While both phones are geared towards gaming, details on display specs are missing. However, given the Red Magic’s focus, it likely features a higher refresh rate panel than the Black Shark 5. The Red Magic 7S Pro’s brand reputation suggests a focus on minimizing bezels for a more immersive experience. The Black Shark 5, while likely offering a quality display, may prioritize cost savings in this area. Both will likely feature high touch sampling rates crucial for responsive gameplay.
Camera Comparison
The context data for the Red Magic 7S Pro indicates a focus on photo/video capabilities, suggesting a more versatile camera system than the Black Shark 5. While specific sensor details are absent, the Red Magic 7S Pro likely features a larger main sensor and more advanced image processing. The Black Shark 5, while capable, likely prioritizes camera functionality less than gaming features. The presence of a dedicated camera mention for the Red Magic suggests a more robust offering, potentially including features like OIS.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The ZTE nubia Red Magic 7S Pro’s Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (4nm) represents a significant leap over the Xiaomi Black Shark 5’s Snapdragon 870 (7nm). The 8+ Gen 1’s smaller node translates to improved power efficiency and thermal performance, meaning less throttling during extended gaming sessions. The CPU architecture also differs; the Red Magic utilizes a Cortex-X2 prime core for peak performance, while the Black Shark 5 relies on Kryo 585 cores. This architectural advantage, combined with the newer process node, gives the Red Magic 7S Pro a clear edge in demanding titles. The Red Magic 7S Pro will also benefit from faster LPDDR5x RAM, further enhancing performance.
Battery Life
Both phones boast incredibly fast charging speeds. The Red Magic 7S Pro, with 135W wired charging (in China, 65W internationally), can reach 50% charge in just 5 minutes, and 100% in 15 minutes (China). The Black Shark 5 achieves 100% in 15 minutes with its 120W charging. While the Red Magic 7S Pro has a slight edge in initial charging speed, the difference is minimal. The actual battery life will depend on the mAh capacity of each device, which is not provided. However, the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1’s efficiency in the Red Magic 7S Pro may offset a potentially smaller battery capacity, resulting in comparable real-world endurance.
Buying Guide
Buy the Xiaomi Black Shark 5 if you need a capable gaming phone at a more accessible price point and value fast charging above all else. It’s ideal for players who enjoy popular titles and don’t demand the highest possible frame rates in the most demanding games. Buy the ZTE nubia Red Magic 7S Pro if you prioritize uncompromising performance, sustained gaming sessions without throttling, and are willing to pay a premium for the latest Snapdragon technology. This phone is for competitive gamers and those who want to experience mobile gaming at its absolute peak.